Tuesday, September 19, 2017

DPWH names 5 major infra projects seen to solve PHL traffic problems

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is the second government agency with the highest proposed budget for 2018, which amounts to 643 billion pesos.

The said budget will cover the implementation of its lined up infrastructure projects.

Senate Committee on Public Services chairperson Senator Grace Poe asked the DPWH for its recommendation on the projects that should be under the emergency powers bill that is expected to resolve the country’s traffic problems, particularly in Metro Manila.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the agency sees the five major projects, namely: the Skyway Stage 3, SLEX-NLEX connector road, the 12 bridges along the Pasig River, the Laguna Lake Highway and the Harbor Lake, will be the answer to the long-time traffic problem.

“The projection is that the combined vehicular traffic that would be absorbed by these two projects is about 100,000 a day. So just on these projects alone there will significant impact on traffic in Metro Manila,” said Villar.

Senator Poe, on the other hand, said that although the immediate implementation of these projects is imperative, high-quality assurance should be an utmost guarantee.

“’Yun ang papayagan natin sa alternative sources of bidding na papayagan natin (That is what we will allow in the alternative sources of bidding that we will approve). Not necessarily the lowest bidder but the best,” said Poe.

The DPWH targets to complete most of these projects by the middle of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

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